Enterprise Resource Planning Systems: An Analysis of Post-Implementation Results

This qualitative-quantitative research study identifies the operational, managerial, technological, strategic, organizational and financial results that are monitored by companies that implemented enterprise resource planning (ERP) systems, and the benefits that were actually attained as a result of their implantation. Interviews carried out in three companies operating, respectively, in the electrical, construction and financial sectors, revealed that while these companies monitor some of the expected results, this is not done in a structured, orderly manner. The three companies reported improvements in productivity, corporate governance, IT platform stability and customer relationships. None of the companies monitored the financial results of the ERPs, however, and therefore were unable to make conclusions with respect to net financial benefits. For this reason, in addition to the initial qualitative study, we undertook a quantitative study focused on the financial ratios of publicly-held companies in order to provide a more complete analysis. In this phase, the sample was made up of 14 listed companies for which we could identify the period in which ERP was implanted. The non-parametric analysis of their financial ratios, before and after the adoption of ERPs, identified a reduction of corporate profitability in the post-implementation period, although improvements in the management of working capital were observed. This empirical research has contributed to improvement of the theoretical framework and the development and proposal of a more complete monitoring instrument that may be of use to academics and corporate executives.